Blank Verse is poetry written in iambic pentameter with no rhyme scheme, so called because of the 'blank' word at the end of the line that should rhyme. Poets tend to use this technique in poetry for lengthy works such as narrative poetry or dramatic monologues because of the flexibility Blank Verse allows.
Example Poem:
I Hear America Singing by Walt WhitmanI HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
How Blank Verse Is Used:
This poem is an example of blank verse because it does not have a rhyme scheme. The reason he uses blank verse is because rhyming limits your words and keeps you from expressing what you are really trying to say. Also, for a longer poem like this one, it is very difficult to rhyme. Rhyming in a poem seems fake because the writter has to scramble words together.
Definition:
Blank Verse is poetry written in iambic pentameter with no rhyme scheme, so called because of the 'blank' word at the end of the line that should rhyme. Poets tend to use this technique in poetry for lengthy works such as narrative poetry or dramatic monologues because of the flexibility Blank Verse allows.
Example Poem:
I Hear America Singing by Walt WhitmanI HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
How Blank Verse Is Used:
This poem is an example of blank verse because it does not have a rhyme scheme. The reason he uses blank verse is because rhyming limits your words and keeps you from expressing what you are really trying to say. Also, for a longer poem like this one, it is very difficult to rhyme. Rhyming in a poem seems fake because the writter has to scramble words together.